1. Plant Taxonomy
Horticulture
Unit 2

2. Objective
To differentiate between scientific and common plant names and explain the binomial system of naming plants.

3. Introduction*
Most plants have more than one common name however they can be confusing because two totally different plants may have the same common name.
For this reason it is import to know both the proper and the common name of plants
For example the Red Maple is also know as the Swamp Maple and Scarlet Maple depending on the area you are in.

4. The Binomial System of Naming Plants
Developed by Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus
Gave all plants two Latin names as their scientific name
First name is the generic name, group name of GENUS
Plants with the same generic name belong to the same genus and have similar characteristics and are more closely related
Second name is the specific name or SPECIES
Plants with the same specific name belong to the same species. These plants have the same characteristics and will consistently produce plants of the same type.
Universal name of plants

5. Varieties Subdivision of species
Resemble another variety but have one or two different characteristics that are consistent and inherited
Example: Peach Tree is Prunus persica and the nectarine is Prunus persica var. nucipersica

6. Cultivars Another subdivision Cultivar means “cultivated variety”
Example: Two cultivars of Acer rubrum (red maple) are ‘Red Sunset’ and ‘Autumn Flame’
Autumn Flame
Red Sunset

7. Genus Name Noun Often are the names of botanists Common Generic names
Acer (maple)
Chrysanthemum (mum)
Dianthus (pink)
Hibiscus (mallow)
Mimulus (monkey flower)
Pinus (Pine)

8. Species Name Adjective
Often gives important information about the plant such as color, if the plant is creeping or erect, size or geographic location where the plant occurs naturally

9. Plant Families
Major units of related genera with similar flower structure
Example: The rose family Rosaceae consists of several genera- Prunus (plum), Fragaria (strawberry), Rubus (bramble) and Malus (apple)
Each have simple flowers with seperated petals
Largest plant family is the Asteraceae (Aster) family

10. Plant Families
Apple
Plum
Strawberry
Bramble

11. Expressing Scientific Names
Taxonomy Chart: Hierarch of Specification
Kingdom—Plant
Division or Phylum– Spermatophyta (seed plants)
Class—Angiospermae (seeds in fruit)
Order- Acerales
Family--Aceraceae
Genus--Acer
Species—rubrum
Variety or cultivar– var. ‘October Glory’

12. The Taxonomist Scientist who identify and classify plants
Identify and classify plants in a hierarch of specification
Must follow a national set of rules known as the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature

13. Assignment Complete the self evaluation Multiple Choice and Matching
Due Wednesday August 21 end of period